The UH Board of Regents today approved a supplemental budget that included an amended request for $5 million dollars in state general obligation bonds for construction of the planned Daniel K. Inouye Center on the University of Hawai’i Campus.

UH Interim President David Lassner made the amended request after public testimony by Inouye’s former Chief of Staff Jennifer Sabas, on behalf of the Inouye family. Sabas said she asked UH leadership to slow the project down to allow for a longer period of time for the design process and to receive additional input and comment. The design will be funded by UH and private funds.

Sabas told the board she takes responsibility for the “time sensitive” request that was made in an effort to demonstrate a significant commitment to the project by the university and the state. (Complete Sabas testimony attached).

Lassner said the $5 million legislative request would give the state the opportunity to demonstrate its commitment to honor Senator Inouye and enable public and private fundraising to move forward.

Soundbites:

Jennifer Sabas/Inouye Family Spokesperson

12 seconds “Not long after the Senator’s passing, leaders at the University of Hawai’i, in good faith and much emotion, put this building proposal together.”

8 seconds“And that, in turn, led to other questions that have become rather hurtful, and have caused us, the family, to pause.”

8 seconds “We respectfully request that we pause and that we take stock and we slow down this design process to allow for more input and for thoughtful conversation.”

14 seconds"As you can imagine, it is very difficult to ask for a national gift, a large national gift for the Senator’s home state and alma mater, when the home state and alma mater have yet to step forward with a significant contribution.”